24 July, 2015

Major entertainment and convenience retail development for Rotorua gets green light

Rotorua’s tourism and entertainment offering is about to get a major boost with details released today regarding the new $13 million Lynmore Junction and entertainment zone development on Te Ngae Road.

The 27,746m2 development includes one of the largest all-weather entertainment centres in New Zealand, alongside convenience retail outlets such as a high end small format supermarket incorporating a pharmacy, service station and fast food outlets. The development, with 260 carparks, is located within close proximity to Whakarewarewa Forest, the lakes, eastern suburbs and the inner city.

The cornerstone feature of the development is a 6,085m2 entertainment zone set to open in the last quarter of 2016. The entertainment zone will incorporate Strike Zone Entertainment Rotorua (ten pin bowling), Megazone Laser Tag Rotorua, Timezone Games, a state of the art trampoline centre and the popular franchise, Chipmunks Playland & Café, all under one roof along with a conference room, party rooms and licensed café.

Additional entertainment zone activities and attractions will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Lynmore Junction is being developed by Rotorua’s Holmes Group and Managing Director, Ryan Holmes, says Lynmore Junction will be a “quality, innovative and vibrant” development that will add value not only to Lynmore residents and surrounds, but to the whole of Rotorua.

“Lynmore Junction will offer everyday quality convenience retail on the doorstep of local residents and commuters,” says Ryan.

“At the same time, the entertainment zone will become a significant national and international visitor destination in its own right, with wide ranging appeal for families and residents of all ages from Rotorua, the wider Bay of Plenty, Taupo, South Waikato and further afield, particularly Auckland.

“The entertainment zone brings together all the latest interactive activities and technology under one roof to provide a year-round venue – rain, hail or shine. It is the ultimate all-weather destination.

“The experience will start the moment you set foot inside the entertainment zone with a grotto-like entrance, building anticipation and leading to a centralised welcome and information area. It will be totally unlike anything ever seen in Rotorua before.”

Ryan says the entertainment zone concept follows worldwide trends with a number of different interactive activities in one venue offering the latest technology and equipment and run by experienced New Zealand operators to the highest safety standards.

He says the Holmes Group team have put their “hearts and souls” into the project to bring the vision to life.

“This includes working with a number of key partners, without whom we would not be where we are today. These include Paul Sanford from NAI Harcourts, Project Manager, Matt Jackson, from RCP, the anchor tenants, Todd McClay MP, Rotorua Lakes Council and Destination Rotorua.”

“We believe the entertainment zone will complement Rotorua’s existing attractions and help fill a large gap when it comes to all-weather options, thereby extending the city’s wider offering,” says Ryan.

“We have developed Lynmore Junction in such a way to ensure it will add value to Rotorua’s CBD and support current and planned developments, rather than detract from the great work underway in the inner city. We are working closely with Rotorua Lakes Council to ensure this is the case.”

“Rotorua’s Strike Zone will relocate with a whole new fit out to Lynmore Junction from Fenton Park, while the other attractions are all new additions to the region – an aspect which is particularly exciting,” says Ryan.

The Lynmore Junction development will also involve the installation of a new set of traffic signals at the Te Ngae and Iles Road intersection.

“The relevant authorities had previously identified this intersection as requiring an upgrade to traffic signals, but we have brought this timeframe forward and incorporated the intersection upgrade as part of the development, at our cost, to ensure safe and easy access to Lynmore Junction, smooth local traffic management and to allay safety concerns for local school children,” says Ryan.

Demolition of the existing site buildings is expected to commence within the next eight weeks, with construction starting in early 2016. The development will create job opportunities for local construction workers and contractors during the demolition and construction period, as well as a number of full and part-time employment positions once fully completed.

Opportunities to become a part of the Lynmore Junction development and entertainment zone are still available through franchises or individual lease. For further information contact Paul Sanford at NAI Harcourts on 027 471 3116 or paul.sanford@naiharcourts.co.nz

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